Ponting stands down as Australia captain, to play on

SYDNEY: Ricky Ponting, the most successful captain in 134 years of test cricket, has resigned as Australia’s test and one-day skipper but will continue as a batsman with the teams, he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Ricky Ponting Resigned From Captaincy

Australian captain Ricky Ponting has resigned from captaincy but he will continue his play as player. He was having pressure on him since the defeat against Pakistan and India. There were some news that he might step down from captaincy and so he do.

On Tuesday he announced that he is stepping down the captaincy and will be available as a player. Ponting also favored the Vice Captain Michael Clark as a captain. He added that the decision of retirement is his sole decision and no one has asked him to do so.

Ponting said that he is leaving the captaincy of both ODI and test cricket and will be available for both formats of the game. He added that now team has to do a lot to get back the Ashes in 2013-14 and world cup in 2015.

He looked confident and said that he will give his full support to his captain and he will always behind the new captain and helps him in all ways. Ponting took over from Steve Waugh and played 228 matches as captain and won 164 matches. He also won 2003 and 2007 world cup for Australia. Bad Ashes performance and world cup defeat has made him to step down as captain.

Next few days crucial for my career: Ponting

MELBOURNE: Embattled Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting today said he will take a call on his career in the next few days but asserted that he is not a spent force.

The 36-year-old, who led Australia to back-to-back World Cup titles in 2003 and 2007, returned home today after the team was knocked out of the current edition in the quarterfinal stage following a loss to India.

The five-wicket defeat only added to the pressure on him that had been building after the Ashes loss to England.

Ponting also drew flak for unsavoury incidents during the event, one of which being accidentally damaging a dressing room TV when he threw his gear in anger after being dismissed.

His poor form for most part of the tournament didn’t help Ponting’s cause either but he managed to silence some criticism of his batting with a fighting hundred against India, albeit for a losing cause.

“The last couple of weeks there’s been a few differing opinions out in the papers and out in the news about me and my future as leading the team,” Ponting told reporters on arrival here.

“It’s been nice the last week especially to hear some endorsement from Cricket Australia and the selectors about that position.

“But that’s where the next few days are crucial to me as well. I have to really decide what I think is right for me and the team going forward.

Ponting, Australia’s captain for nine years, was also criticised for not walking despite knowing that he is out in a game against Pakistan.

His temper landed him in trouble again when he angrily threw the ball to the ground after accidentally running into teammate Steve Smith while attempting a catch.

But he maintained that he still has a lot to offer to Australian cricket.

“I still think I’ve got a lot to offer the team as a player and a leader.” agencies

Australia pacemen restrict New Zealand to just 206

NAGPUR: The Australian pace duo of Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait vindicated captain Ricky Ponting’s decision to field first by skittling trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand for 206 on Friday.

After a sombre start to the day, in which the teams observed a minute’s silence following Tuesday’s devastating earthquake in Christchurch, Johnson (four for 33) and Tait (three for 35)
shared seven wickets among themselves.

Brett Lee and Shane Watson also chipped in with a wicket apiece, while Steve Smith was the only spinner to pick up a wicket.

Steve Waugh Backs Australia For Winning World Cup 2011

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh said that Australian team is with chances of winning world cup 2011. He said that India and Sri Lanka two hosts are also big contenders for the world cup. Steve Waugh was captain of Australian team in 1999 world cup. The four world cup winning steak started from his tenure.

Current Australian captain Ricky Ponting has two world cups win under his captaincy. He will definitely go hard for 2011 world cup to complete his hat trick. In Sub Continent it is hard for fast bowlers to perform well. The key will be the spinning attack.

Steve said that teams are in good form and it’s the day who will decide about the winner but he mentioned Indian team as good team and Sri Lankan team with good chances to win 2011 cup.

Waugh said that fast bowlers of Australia are in good forma and they ranked good so Australian team will heavily depend upon the fast bowlers. Australia has good 2010 but the end of 2010 was not good for Australia. Out of 25 matches they won 16 and lost 8 matches. Michael Clarke and Bret Lee have retained their form and it is a good sign for Australian team.

Ponting Back To Batting Practice After Finger Injury

Australian captain R Ponting has joined the practice on Tuesday secession at SCG. He was looking good while practicing and it is hoped that he will recover properly before the first practice match. Australia’s batting coach Justin Langer said that he is very hopeful that Ponting is doing well with batting practice.

Ricky Ponting himself was looking happy with the way things went for him. He said that he was playing the balls easily but the problem appears when bat twists in his hands. He showed his satisfaction with batting.

In the third Ashes test he had injured his finger and left out of team after playing 4th test match. He is first choice as captain for Australia. Australia is schedule to fly India next week. They will play their first warm up game against India. Then they are schedule play against South Africa.

Ricky Ponting added that he is waiting for right time to get into the game and he doesn’t want to do any thing silly that could cost him more games. He also said that he will act according to physio’s suggestions. He is also intent to rest for couple more weeks. He is very optimistic regarding his soon return.

Lee, David Hussey in Aussie squad for first ODI

MELBOURNE: Australia named paceman Brett Lee and batsman David Hussey in a 14-man squad for the first of seven one-day internationals against England, brightening their chances of making the cut for next month’s World Cup.

Sunday’s ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will be Australia’s last before the Jan. 19 deadline by which the teams have to name their final 15 for the tournament in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

“The squad is selected for one game only in order for the national selection panel to look at certain players before we select the ICC

Cricket World Cup squad of fifteen on January 19,” chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said in a statement.

“Ricky Ponting is recovering from a finger injury sustained during the Ashes, which gives Michael Clarke another chance to lead the one-day side.”

Rahul Dravid makes a new record of 200 catches in Test cricket

Indian cricketer Rahul Dravid on Monday made a new record of 200 catches in his Test career.

Rahul Dravid took his 200th catch of Dale Steyn off Harbhajan Singh, diving in a flash to his left, during South Africa’s first innings in the ongoing second Test against India at Sahara Kingsmead Stadium here. Dravid now tops the list of most number of catches in Test cricket. He registered the feat in his 149th match. Former Australia opener Mark Waugh is at the second spot with 181 catches from 128 Tests, followed by Australia skipper Ricky Ponting (174), former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming (171) and West Indian batting great Brian Lara (164).

Ashes referrals infuriate Ponting, save Prior

MELBOURNE: Australia captain Ricky Ponting’s frustration over a TV referral decision boiled over into an ugly row with umpire Aleem Dar on the second day of the fourth Ashes test on Monday.

Ponting, whose team faces a huge task to save the test and keep alive their hopes of winning back the Ashes, spent more than a minute remonstrating with Dar after demanding a review of a not out decision against England batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Wicketkeeper Brad Haddin had launched a loud but solo appeal for caught behind, convinced Pietersen, who was on 49, had nicked the ball from quick Ryan Harris.

A review of the decision revealed no “hot spot” where the ball passed Pietersen’s bat but a furious Ponting, who was joined by finger-jabbing seamer Peter Siddle, argued long and hard with Dar, prompting jeers from the crowd.

We won’t be intimidated by Melbourne crowd: Strauss

MELBOURNE: England will not be intimidated by a Melbourne Cricket Ground packed with a hostile Australian crowd for the fourth Ashes test, captain Andrew Strauss said on Saturday.

The test gets underway on Sunday and officials have talked up the possibility of a record attendance for a cricket ground at the cauldron-like MCG on the first day.

Strauss’s counterpart, Ricky Ponting, took a psychological swipe at England’s youthful side, saying he thought they could find the atmosphere intimidating with the five-test series delicately poised at 1-1.

“I’m sure he does,” Strauss said of Ponting following England’s final training session at the MCG. “I don’t think we will, no. One of the things that’s important is that you’re ready for it and you’re not surprised by it.

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